Key Takeaways:
- Communities along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road are recovering from a historic deluge that caused flash flooding on Thursday.
- The flooding saw cars swept to sea and people trapped, with no reports of injuries but SES crews assisting those stuck in caravans.
- Warnings for Kennett River, Wye River, and Lorne have been downgraded, but people are warned of potential hazards including floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads, and fallen trees.
- More heavy rain is expected, especially in Gippsland, with the weather expected to settle by the weekend.
- Residents are advised to stay alert to conditions and delay travel if necessary, knowing their areas and potential flash flood risks.
Introduction to the Floods
The communities along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road are in the process of recovering from a historic deluge that caused flash flooding on Thursday. The flooding, which occurred in areas such as Wye River and Lorne in Victoria’s south-west, saw cars swept to sea and people trapped as floodwaters surged through the coastal towns. Fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries, but SES crews had to assist people stuck in caravans. The flooding was so severe that it has been described as the worst ever seen by residents, with one local saying they "missed being killed probably by about 10 seconds" as they ran for their lives.
Causes of the Flooding
The flooding was caused by huge downpours in the area, with the rain gauge at Mt Cowley, west of Lorne, recording more than 180 millimeters of rain on Thursday. This smashed the previous daily rainfall record, with all the rain coming in around four hours, making it a short but incredibly sharp event. According to Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Angus Hynes, "that amount of rainfall can have a massive impact regarding flash flooding and causing those local river levels to shoot through the roof very quickly." The rain was fueled by extremely high moisture content in the atmosphere, which is unusual to see this far south, and was also influenced by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji in Queensland.
Emergency Response
SES chief operations officer Alistair Drayton said that emergency services had not seen this level of rain in the region before, and that it created a "deluge of water coming down those estuaries" with "pretty extreme vision of vehicles that have been washed out." The SES is asking people to remain clear of dangerous areas, and residents are being warned of potential hazards including floodwater, mud, debris, damaged roads, and fallen trees. There is also the potential for landslips, making it an incredibly dangerous environment. The Wye River caravan park was severely inundated, with the SES reporting up to half a meter of mud through the park, rendering it inaccessible.
Community Response
The community has come together to respond to the flooding, with a community meeting held at the nearby Wye River pub, which became a refuge for those who evacuated from the caravan park. Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said she was "keeping across emerging updates" and that "the footage coming out of Wye River is terrifying." She urged people to stay safe and to follow the instructions of emergency services. The flood-hit area sits on the eastern end of the Otways, not far from where the out-of-control Carlisle River bushfire has been burning to the west since Saturday.
Weather Forecast
More heavy rain is expected, especially in Gippsland, with the weather expected to settle by the weekend. Mr. Hynes said that the rainfall in Victoria was fueled by "extremely high moisture content in the atmosphere that’s unusual to see this far south" and that it’s "very rare to see rain of that intensity across southern parts of Australia." The weather across Victoria has "at least been influenced a little bit" by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji in Queensland. Parts of Gippsland also experienced severe storms on Thursday, as well as parts of Victoria’s north. Mr. Drayton urged Victorians to stay alert to conditions, saying "we will see significant rainfall. It will be heavy rainfall" and asking people to be mindful and, if need be, delay their travels.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the communities along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road are recovering from a historic deluge that caused flash flooding on Thursday. The flooding was severe, with cars swept to sea and people trapped, but fortunately, there have been no reports of injuries. The causes of the flooding were huge downpours in the area, fueled by extremely high moisture content in the atmosphere and influenced by ex-Tropical Cyclone Koji in Queensland. The emergency response was swift, with the SES asking people to remain clear of dangerous areas and warning of potential hazards. The community has come together to respond to the flooding, and more heavy rain is expected, especially in Gippsland, with the weather expected to settle by the weekend. Residents are advised to stay alert to conditions and delay travel if necessary, knowing their areas and potential flash flood risks.